China’s low-cost airlines explore more routes

Beijing, Oct 10 (IANS) China’s Spring Airlines, the country’s largest low-cost carrier, will launch its first direct flight between Changchun city, capital of Jilin province, and Bangkok, as the airline explores more international routes.

The flight, starting from November 3, will fly via Yangzhou city on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, Xinhua cited the airline as saying on Saturday.

The airline has launched several routes to Thailand, with tickets starting from 100 yuan ($15.76).

Domestic low-cost carriers are all eyeing on the international market, according to Hu Tingbao, deputy manager of the marketing department of Spring Airlines.

“Facing the competition of high-speed trains and expressways, low-cost airlines are an unavoidable new trend,” said Hu, “Ticket prices 20 to 30 percent lower than regular flights will be our biggest advantage.”

Foreign low-cost airlines including Jetstar and AirAsia have also started to look toward the growing China market, Hu added.

The Shanghai-listed company has a total of 56 airplanes. It is China’s first and north Asia’s largest low-fare airline, and currently operates more than 90 domestic and international routes.